Emily's pulse pounded in her ears. She gripped the bat tighter, the wood slick in her sweaty hands. The truck driver hadn't seen the walkers yet. He leaned halfway out his window, calling, "Hey! You two okay. Three. Maybe four seconds before the dead reached him. Emily made the call.
"Stay here," she hissed to Sophie, then broke into a sprint toward the truck The driver's eyes widened. "What the—"
"Behind you!" Emily shouted. He twisted in his seat just as the first walker—a man in a bloodstained work uniform—slammed against the truck door. The driver reached for a rifle resting on the seat, but Emily was already there, swinging the bat hard. The crack of wood on bone echoed through the street as the thing dropped to the ground, twitching. Another walker came from the passenger side. The driver fired once, the gunshot deafening, the recoil jolting his shoulder. The shot caught the creature in the head, and it fell instantly. The third walker was faster—too fast. It lunged for Emily, teeth snapping inches from her face. She shoved her bat between its jaws, wood straining under the pressure, and kicked it hard in the knee. It stumbled, just long enough for the driver to climb out and smash its skull with the butt of his rifle. Silence. Just their heavy breathing.
"You've got guts, kid," the man said, glancing at her bat. "Not many would run toward trouble these days." Emily didn't answer right away. Her eyes darted to Sophie, who was still crouched in the playhouse, staring in shock. "That's my sister," Emily said finally. "We need a safe place. Have you seen. The man cut her off. "Name's Cole. I was headed north. Got room in the truck if you want a ride. But if you're coming, we leave now. This city's going to burn before nightfall." Emily hesitated. Every warning she'd ever been told about strangers screamed in her head. But then she heard more moans in the distance—more walkers on the way. She jogged back, grabbed Sophie's hand, and led her to the truck. Sophie climbed in without a word, still clutching her bunny.
Cole started the engine, tires screeching as they pulled away.
Emily looked out the window just in time to see smoke rising from the direction of their neighborhood.